Comparative Phytochemical Profiling and Antioxidant Potential of Underexplored Medicinal Plant Species Using HPTLC and GC–MS

Abstract

ABSTRACT Underexplored medicinal flora represents an untapped reservoir of bioactive secondary metabolites with substantial therapeutic potential. Despite traditional ethnopharmacological relevance across indigenous healing systems, comprehensive chemophenetic fingerprinting and comparative bioactivity data for taxa such as Clerodendrum inerme, Tacca chantrieri, Glochidion velutinum, Argostemma verticillatum, and Curculigo orchioides remain scarce. This review delivers a multi-analytical synthesis evaluating the phytochemical architectures and free radical scavenging potencies of these underexplored botanical species. We systematically examine: (i) standardized High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) densitometric methodologies for quantifying reference phytomarkers (quercetin, gallic acid, lupeol, and beta-sitosterol), (ii) hyphenated Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) volatilome profiling across non-polar fractions, (iii) in vitro radical scavenging mechanics across DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays, and (iv) structure-activity relationships connecting polyphenols and terpenoids with redox kinetics. Quantitative meta-analysis reveals that Tacca chantrieri and Curculigo orchioides harbor high phenolic densities (92.8 and 81.6 mg GAE/g), exhibiting exceptional DPPH radical scavenging potencies (IC50 = 16.2 ug/mL and 21.5 ug/mL) that rival standard synthetic antioxidants. Hyphenated GC–MS profiling deconvoluted 40 secondary metabolites, showing predominant sesquiterpenoids, phytosterols, and volatile phenolics. Finally, this review discusses translational bottlenecks including botanical authentication, batch standardization, and regulatory compliance, establishing a roadmap for phytopharmaceutical and nutraceutical valorization.

KEYWORDS— Phytochemical Profiling; High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC); Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC MS); Antioxidant Potential; Free Radical Scavenging; Polyphenols; Tacca chantrieri; Clerodendrum inerme.